On Thu, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:32:26AM +0800, Bret Busby (bret@busby.net) wrote:
> http://www.acer.com.au/acer/product.do?link=oln23g.redirect&changedAlts=&kcond5e.c2att92=853&CRC=1165838950
> ,
> "A 64-bit operating system is required to enjoy the ultimate performance
> of 4 GB memory"
>
> So, does anyone who has something worth saying, know whether a 64 bit
> CPU and a 64 bit OS, is required to properly use >= 4GB of RAM?
No, for reasonable definitions of "properly".
But the performance of a 32-bit CPU will suffer from the extension
mechanisms needed to handle memory space bigger than 2^32,
so if you are buying a new machine and plan to have over 4GB
of RAM, a 64-bit CPU and OS would be preferable.
--
Tapani Tarvainen